William a



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. A. KIRBY.

MOWING MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. W. A. KIRBY.

MOWING MAGHINB.

Patented Apr. 6

R 0 T m V N l N. PETER$ PMm-Ulhognahur, Washington. D, C.

NlTED STATES PATENT OFFIE- \VILLIAM A. KIRBY, OF AUBURN, NEV YORK.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,192, dated April 6, 1886.

Application filed December 17, 1884. Serial No. 150,572.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM A. KIRBY, of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to two-wheeled frontcutting machines; and it consists in an improved manner of connecting and adjusting the wheel which carries the inner or main shoe; also in an approved manner of connecting with the main shoe the braces by which it is maintained in position; also in an improved manner of arranging and operating the latch by means of which the fingerbar is maintained in an upright position when not being used.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine containing my improvements as viewed from the grass side. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main shoe and attendant parts as viewed from the inner or stubble side. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same parts from the front.

\Vith the exception of the peculiarities of construction hereinafter detailed, my machine resembles others which are at present in common use.

A A represent the two main wheels, secured on opposite ends of an axle, B, which is extended through the rear end of the main frame 0. This frame, which is usually cast conipletein one piece, is formed with a forwardlyextending arm, a, and otherwise constructed and adapted, as shown, to receive the driving-gear, the drivers seat, and the tongue or draft-pole D, which is bolted firmly thereto.

The general construction of this frame constitutes no part of the present invention, and need not, therefore, be detailed herein.

E represents the finger-bar, constructed in the ordinary manner, and bolted at its inner end firmly to the main shoe F, which is constructed with two upwardly-extending ears, I), connected by means of horizontal pivots c to arms extending downward from a heavy head or casting, G, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, so that the finger-bar may be lifted at the outer end until it assumes a vvertical position. The casting G is formed at its forward end (No model.)

serted through the end of the brace, in the manner plainly represented in Fig. 3. The main brace H may abut at itsinner endaga-inst the side of the arm Q, or against a flange cast on the head G for the purpose. The casting is also connected at its rear side by a horizontal pivot to the forward end of what is commonly known as a push-bar, I, the rear end of this bar being connected by a horizontal pivot to an arm, 9, extending downward rigidly from the main frame in rear of the axle. The braces H and I serve jointly to maintain the main shoe and finger-bar in an operative position, while at the same time they permit it to rise and fall with perfect freedom, and also to be rocked forward and backward to a limited extent,in order to tip the gnar l-iingers upward or downward.

For the purpose of effecting this rocking or rolling motion of the linger-bar, I connect to the upper side of the head or casting G, above the push-bar l, a rod, J, which is extended thence backward and pivoted to a hand-lever, K, which has its axis coincident with that of the push-bar. By moving this lover forward and backward the rod J is caused to impart to the head G, the main shoe, and the fingerbar a rolling motion in a forward or backward direction. The lever K is locked in position by means of a sliding dog, L, mounted thereon, and arranged to engage in a rack-bar, M, bolted to the main frame. The rod L is connected by means of a thumb lever or catch, 8, pivoted to the upper end of thehand lcver,and connected therewith by a rod or link, as shown.

For the purpose of maintaining the finger bar in its upright position, Ipivot on the casting G an angular latch, N, having a hooked end to engage the plate t on the finger-bar.

IOO

This catch, which engages under the influence of a spring, to, is released by means of a rod, 0, extending thence rearward to one end of a small elbow-lever, p, the axis of which is coincident with that of the hand-lever K, before alluded to. The opposite arm of the lever 12 is connected by a rod to the sliding dog L, by which the lever is locked, so that the act of operating the latch s to release the lever has also the effect of operating the catch N and unlocking the finger-bar, that it may turn downward to its operative position.

. Tosupport or assist in supporting the main shoe, I make use of a ground-wheel, P, connectedby a horizontal journal to the forward end of an elbow-lever, Q, which is pivoted midway of its length to the casting G. The upper rear end of the arm Qis pivoted to the forward end of a rod, R, which is extended through an ear or guide on the rearward side of the casting G, and encircled by a strong spiral spring, which bears at one end against the ear. and at the opposite end against the arm. This spring tends to tip the arm and wheel downward, and thereby to lift the head G and the main shoe from the ground. Its strength is so proportioned to the weight of the parts, however, that the spring remains normally under compression, permitting the shoe to ride upon or in close proximity to the ground. The spring serves, however, as a yielding connection between the shoe and the wheel, so that the shoe is in effect carried upon a spring. Under this construction the wheel is permitted to rise and fall in passing over inequalitiesin the ground,smoothly and easily, and without imparting to the shoe or fingerbar the violent shocks and strains which would otherwise be encountered.

The essence of my invention in this regard consists in connecting the carrying-wheel with the shoe or finger-bar through an intermediate spring-connection which admits of the wheel rising and falling with respect to the shoe; and it will be manifest to the skilled mechanic that the details of construction may be greatly modified without changing, essentially, the action or passing beyond the limits of my invention.

In order to permit the height of the shoe to be varied as circumstances may require, I propose to provide the arm Q, on which the wheel is carried, with a series of holes to receive the spring-actuated rod, which may be connected thereto at different points. It is to be noted that inasmuch as the wheel is connected to the head G- its position is not affected by the rising and falling motion of the finger-bar.

For the purpose of preventing the passage of the grass between the wheel P and the main shoe, I mount on the journal of the wheel, on the grass side thereof, a plate or fender, T, which extends outward past the point of the shoe. This fender directs the standing grass inward, so that it will pass to the inner side of the shoe, thus avoiding all danger of the wheel becoming choked or impeded by the grass.

The knife or cutter bar is actuated by means of the pitman L, extending thence to a crank on the forward end of a shaft mounted on the end of the main frame, this shaft being driven from the main axle by intermediate gearing of an ordinary character, having no connection with my invention.

\Vhile I have represented in the drawings and prefer to use in practice a shoe which is hinged to the carrying-head G, I may employ the front brace and swiveling sleeve thereon in connection with a carrying-head which is cast in one piece with or bolted to the main shoe, the finger-bar being in such case hinged to the shoe, as in various machines at present known in the art.

The essence of the invention in this regard consists in combining with the brace the en-.

circling or swiveling sleeve having a rigid connection with the parts by which the fingerbar is carried, and it is manifest that the improvement may be applied to machines of various forms. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The wheeled frame, the transverse brace H, jointed thereto at the front, and the push-bar or brace I, jointed thereto at the rear, in combination with a shoe-supporting head, G, provided with a sleeve loosely encircling thebrace H, and united to the push-bar bya horizontal pivot in rear of the transverse brace, as described and shown.

2. The wheeled frame, the transverse brace jointed thereto, the push-bar, also jointed to the frame, the head G, jointed to the push-bar and provided with the elongated sleeve encircling the brace, the mainshoe hinged to the head, the rod J, and the lever K, all combined for joint operation substantially as described and shown.

3. In combination with the main shoe having the finger-bar attached, the carrying-wheel therefor and the intermediate spring-connection, substantially as described, whereby the' shoe is carried with an elastic or yielding ac tion.

4. In combination with the shoe, the carrying-head hinged thereto, the arm hingedto the head, the wheel mounted on the arm, the rod attached to the arm, and the spring, applied substantially as shown.

5. In a mowing-machine,.the combination of the rolling finger-bar and the rod to effect IIS said motion, the lever to actuate the rod, the 7 locking devices for the lever, the latch to sustain the finger-bar in an upright position, and the operating devices common .to the latch,

and the locking devices, whereby the handlever and the finger-bar may be unlocked simultaneously.

6. The rolling finger-bar, its controlling-rod, and the hand-lever for actuating said rod, combined with the thumb-lever 8, rod L, el-

bow-lever p, latch N, and connecting'rods, to the finger-bar to effect its rolling motion,

substantially as described and shown. the two levers having a common axis, sub- 7. In a mowing-machine, the combination st-antially as described. of a rolling finger-bar, a latch directly engag- WILLIAM A. KIRBY. 5 ing the fingerbar to sustain the same in an Vitnesses:

upright position, a lever connected to the JAS. T. CARSON,

latch to operatethe same, and alever connected JAs. A. STOUGI-ITON. 

